(Shanghai, September 27, 2024) The highly anticipated 3rd World Design Cities Conference (WDCC 2024) grandly opened in Shanghai today. At the opening ceremony, the Frontier Design Prize (FDP) winners were revealed. World-renowned automotive designer Giorgetto GIUGIARO and young Shanghai designer LV Shumin were honored with the "Distinguished Contribution" and "Innovation of the Year (K12)" respectively. The ceremony was witnessed by SHEN Haixiong, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and President of China Media Group; GONG Zheng, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and Mayor of Shanghai; alongside representatives from governments, international creative cities, design organizations, universities, leading enterprises, designers, and media.

The Frontier Design Prize (FDP), a key component of WDCC’s "one award, one think tank, and one initiative" framework, is a visionary, pioneering non-profit international design accolade. Organized under the guidance of Shanghai Municipal Government and hosted by Design Innovation Institute Shanghai (DIIS), it recognizes global excellence in design.

The "Distinguished Contribution" honors distinguished individuals who have made pioneering contributions to the field of design, creatively forged paths at the frontiers of design practice, education or research, and demonstrated extensive influence in design innovation. Previous recipients include Professor Don Norman, the foremost advocate of "human-centered design" and pioneer of "user experience design," and Professor Yrjö Sotamaa, president emeritus of University of Art and Design Helsinki, founder of Aalto University, and founding Chairman of Cumulus Association, who dedicated his career to advancing global design and innovation education.

This year’s laureate, Giorgetto Giugiaro, a luminary of 20th-century design, set global benchmarks for innovation through extraordinary talent and achievements. With iconic works like the Volkswagen Golf and the Nikon F3/F4/F5 camera, Giorgetto Giugiaro’s influence extends beyond cars, shaping modern aesthetics and functionality across multiple industries, which continues to inspire future generations.

Professor LOU Yongqi, Chair of the FDP Jury, remarked, " With his unique Italian design aesthetics, he seamlessly integrates technology into the fulfillment of human needs, emotions, and the creation of meaning. In the era of proliferating artificial intelligence, the value of aesthetics is particularly crucial." In his acceptance video, Giugiaro stated, "I’m honored by this prestigious award and look forward to attending next year’s WDCC."

The "Innovation of the Year (K12)" celebrates the most innovative and forward-looking design workscompleted by youth under the age of eighteen (18). Ten-year-old LV Shumin from Zhujiajiao Primary School in Shanghai’s Qingpu District won for her project Insect City. The work divides a landscape into "silhouette-exploring area", "sounds-hearing area", "climbing exploration area" and “nest-searching area". This work combines graphic programming and landscape facilities, when the dragonfly seesaw senses someone passing by, it will begin to vibrate its wings and make sounds.

The citation praised Lü for "By combining technology with a playful spirit, this young designer created an immersive insect world that encourages children to connect with nature. ‘Insect City’ blends multiple sensory experiences, using a simple and imaginative approach to reconnect humans with the natural ecosystem, inviting us to rediscover the world and explore the essence of life."

"With outdoor play declining, developmental and behavioral issues in children are rising," Lü explained at the ceremony. "In Insect City, all children can listen, play, and learn. Design shows me endless possibilities—not just in form, but in emotion. Merging programming with landscape gave me new perspectives and discoveries." She thanked FDP’s organizers and her teachers.

FDP aims to recognize groundbreaking global contributions to design, inspire innovation, amplify design’s role in industry transformation, and deepen public appreciation for design in enriching lives. All candidates are nominated by jury-approved nominators; self-applications are excluded. An independently developed AI evaluation system uses knowledge graphs and impact metrics to provide objective data for judges. Winners are selected through voting by an international jury of authorities and confirmed after review.

The FDP Jury is co-chaired by Professor LOU Yongqi, Vice President of Tongji University and Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, and Professor Rosanne Somerson, President Emerita of Rhode Island School of Design. Members include academic experts, design industry leaders, and representatives from Africa and the Global South, ensuring professional and international rigor. This year’s FDP received generous support from the C Foundation and the Xiaomi Foundation.